Java dress questions and translation

[Gavin Nugent]

Thanks gents.

My query was only on the dress because it has a non Java blade within and that I found the hulu particularly interesting to me.

[A. G. Maisey]

If non-Jowo Gavin, what is it?

A keris complete can sometimes tell a story, just looking at hats & coats tell us little about who wore them.

[Gavin Nugent]

It is a classic hexagonal cross sectioned Bugis blade Alan.

Looks like an old marriage, I cannot see evidence of modern tampering with the timbers, a perfectly snug fit. The inside of the wrongko retains old dry patina with a warm glossy patina over the lip where the blade has rested and moved in and out... old timber working reliefs within seem undisturbed.

[A. G. Maisey]

OK Gavin thanks.

This sort of thing is very often a keris that was used by a mercenary. Javanese rulers at all levels, as well as private businesses all used mercenaries from societies that understood combat, usually Madura, Bugis, Bali. Scabbards were frequently discarded before & during combat & replaced with whatever was handy later. The idea that everything --- blade, dress & etc --- must match is a nice one, but nobody ever told the people who actually used keris.

For a dress keris all components of the dress should be correctly mated, but even then, the keris in that beautifully mated dress will sometimes be from somewhere other than where the dress is from.

[Gavin Nugent]

Originally Posted by A. G. Maisey

OK Gavin thanks.

This sort of thing is very often a keris that was used by a mercenary. Javanese rulers at all levels, as well as private businesses all used mercenaries from societies that understood combat, usually Madura, Bugis, Bali. Scabbards were frequently discarded before & during combat & replaced with whatever was handy later. The idea that everything --- blade, dress & etc --- must match is a nice one, but nobody ever told the people who actually used keris.

For a dress keris all components of the dress should be correctly mated, but even then, the keris in that beautifully mated dress will sometimes be from somewhere other than where the dress is from.

Thank you Alan, that is some sensation insight I was not aware of.

Gavin

[A. G. Maisey]

Maybe this might be regarded as an example of something I've been preaching for close to 50 years:-

if one wishes to understand the keris, forget about studying keris books, rather, study sociology, anthropology, history, art, & language of the people concerned.

of course if one only wishes to collect keris, then study keris books instead

[Gavin Nugent]

Alan,

The subject is intriguing, and I present the blade for viewing.

This not the average Bugis man's keris. To my eye and hand it is expertly made.

The edges are some of the sharpest I've ever encountered and they are very clearly defined within a single row of twistcore that has been layered quite well.

It is thick, robust, weighty, but so elegantly balanced. It contains a "symmetry" of sorts (for want of a better word), within the asymmetrical blades that keris are.

If indeed it is an older marriage under the subject you have pursued, the blade may offer a better glimpse in to time.

Gavin